I'm a young American woman in Milan...and you're not. I go to La Scala a lot...and you don't.

Gianluigi Gelmetti

April 03, 2008

Bless Teatro Opera di Roma, one of the few remaining opera houses (In Italy, and not just there) that still insist on casting singers who can actually sing -- and big propsicles to GM Francesco Ernani who still takes the time to cast singers who can sing.

January 15, 2008

An encore (E Lucevan Le Stelle) for Marcelo Alvarez; mad props to Franco Zeffirelli's new staging, pleasure at the discovery of Martina Serafin, a surprinsingly good Tosca; polite applause for maestro Renato Bruson's Scarpia -- the great veteran's voice is not always brilliant, obviously, at this point in his career, but you can always appreciate the style and the intensity of the interpretation.

More later today re: the premiere of Tosca at Teatro dell'Opera di Roma last night: the fashion shows of Moda Uomo are going on at full blast in Milan right now, AND tonight OC has to show up at la Scala for the premiere of Devia's and Antonacci's Maria Stuarda.

Opera di Roma GM Francesco Ernani pointed out in a press conference earlier today that "Since that January 14, 1900, Tosca has been staged all obver the world: it is only fair that she comes back to Rome to start the celebrations for Puccini's 150th birthday".

Maestro Glemetti said that Tosca "is for me a great adventure, Tosca is an icon, with a life of its own, beloved by Italians, Germans, Brits, Americans, Japanese, without distinction of nationality. Tosca truly belongs to all humanity -- she belongs to our hearts".

Sydney Symphony has gotten all hypercrunked about this one, which we'll admit is a pretty sweet deal:

“Sydney Symphony executives found it hard to contain their excitement as they announced the signing, with one of them claiming it the most prestigious musical appointment in Australia's history: ‘I dare to say that it's one of the most prestigious appointments in Australia ever, he is certainly a door opener,’ Mr Fink said. ‘It will help us to position the orchestra internationally on a very high level.’”

damn str8.

Stupidest quote ever??:

“Sydney Symphony chairman David Maloney said that while Ashkenazy was known as a leading interpreter of Rachmaninov, the orchestra should not expect to be deluged with music composed by Russians.”